Wynn Resorts Sues Ex-Brothel Owner Over $255K Debt After $2.3M Macau Spree

Wynn Resorts is suing an Australian ex-junket operator and former brothel owner over an unpaid debt stemming from a multimillion-dollar gambling spree in Macau.

Simon Pan, also known as Zhao Yuan Pan, wagered more than HK$17.8 million (US$2.27 million) at Wynn Palace Casino between Dec. 31, 2025, and Jan. 6, 2026, according to a lawsuit first reported Wednesday, Nov. 11, by The Australian Financial Review.

He finished the trip with a net loss of HK$1.4 million (US$178,400) after financing his gambling exploits with a HK$2 million (US$255,000) loan from Wynn that the casino says he refuses to repay.

Wynn Resorts (Macau) S.A. filed its civil claim in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Nov. 4. It is seeking interest on the loan and costs of debt recovery, including legal fees and court expenses. The credit agreement carried an 18% interest rate.

But Pan is not your average casino debtor.

Troubled Junket Past

The Melbourne resident of Chinese origin once served as a junket agent for two of Australia’s largest casino operators, Crown Resorts and Star Entertainment.

His associations with the companies were scrutinized during a series of high-profile investigations into their suitability to hold casino licenses in 2021 and 2022.

Junket operators bring high-spending gamblers to casinos, typically arranging travel and gambling credit in exchange for commissions.

Pan represented multiple junkets at Crown Melbourne, including Meg-Star, one of Crown’s five largest junket partners.

Linked to Organized Crime and Human Trafficking

A Victorian royal commission investigation into Crown revealed that Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police had previously warned the operator about Pan’s alleged ties to human trafficking syndicates, illegal brothels, and money laundering.

The inquiry heard that Crown was notified in 2013 that Pan was a person of interest to federal law enforcement. Victorian police requested background information on Pan again in 2014 regarding an investigation into suspected sex trafficking and illicit financial flows.

The royal commission ultimately determined that Crown failed to adequately assess the severe risks associated with its junket partners. Crown finally issued a formal venue ban against Pan in 2019.

Pan held similar high-stakes dealings with rival operator Star Entertainment. A separate 2022 regulatory review revealed that Pan had wagered more than A$50 million over the years across Star’s casinos in Sydney, the Gold Coast, and Brisbane.

Star terminated its business relationship with Pan in 2019 and banned him from all properties after elevating his internal risk profile to the maximum level.